Doc 43 - Decision - Car 55 - Alleged failure to slow for double yellow flags
Infringements/DecisionsNotices/Procedures
Document 43 - Decision - Car 55
Investigation Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Driver | Carlos Sainz (Car 55) |
| Competitor | Atlassian Williams F1 Team |
| Session | Free Practice 3 |
| Fact | Alleged failure to slow under yellow flags |
| Decision | No further action |
Summary
The Stewards investigated an alleged breach of Appendix H, Article 2.5.5 b) of the International Sporting Code and Article 1.8.4.b of the FIA F1 Regulations regarding Car 55 (Carlos Sainz).
Reasoning
The Stewards reviewed positioning data, video, telemetry, and team radio evidence involving Car 55 (Carlos Sainz) and Car 3 (Max Verstappen).
- Incident Context: Car 44 crashed at the exit of Turn 13, creating a double yellow sector from Turn 12 to 14.
- Driver Actions: Both Car 55 and Car 3 braked approximately 80m before the sector.
- Evasive Action: The driver of Car 3 (Max Verstappen) applied heavier brake pressure than expected. Consequently, the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz) had to take evasive action and move to the right, locking his brakes to avoid a collision.
- Conclusion: The Stewards confirmed that Car 55 had significantly reduced speed before entering the sector and maintained that reduced speed throughout. The locking of brakes was attributed to a misunderstanding of relative braking and not a breach of the rules.